Customer Reviews

Fiddler's Hall of Fame

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If you are looking to study the wide range of traditional American fiddlers' abilities, you could start right here. There are 28 tracks of just about every genre appropriate for fiddlin'. It isn't all country or all bluegrass - aside from the fiddle and banjo combinations, there are also old Western swing pieces from the 1930's, as well as jazz pieces such as Ben Bernie's SWEET GEORGIA BROWN and Fletcher Henderson's LIMEHOUSE BLUES, both smoothly delivered by Fiddlin' Red Herron. My favorites: the Paul Warren tracks, where his artistry gives him away - Warren was the lead fiddler with Flatt and Scruggs' Foggy Mountain Boys from 1954-1969. His best piece here is GREY EAGLE, difficult to perform for any fiddler but put right out there by Warren. (Warren made the most famous recording of "Orange Blossom Special", an absolutely flawless performance that that was released only once, on the Flatt & Scruggs 1972 album "The World of Flatt & Scruggs"). But I digress - Listen to him right here on 3 tracks, and don't overlook the single piece with incredible banjo player Wynn Osborne (whose trademark renditions of "Foggy Mountain Breakbown" are unsurpassed to this day). Osborne picks alongside fiddler Buddy Spicher on Track 27, in a piece derived from Native American song, FORKED DEER, a very unique old, haunting tune. Since this compilation includes pieces that go far back beyond bluegrass, it is a good course in American traditional fiddling, most enjoyable.

Just what I hoped for. I don't know much about this kind of music, but it sounds great.

The fiddling on this album is top notch. However it covers a range of styles performed mostly by little known players so if you are expecting a purely bluegrass or country album you may be dissapointed. There are also western swing tracks and rags and a fun "story" track where the performer mixes playing and sound imitations (train, dog etc.). As an introduction to different popular American fiddle styles the cd does a good job and I also value hearing the playing of people (most now deceased) who were good entertainers and respected musicians but who never became widely known.

The music on this is wonderful! Good old time fiddler music.....enjoyed it very much and will continue enjoying it.